Geranium named Peach Delight

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of geranium plant, Peach Delight, characterized by its cascading growth habit; its large, peach-colored, double blossoms; its continuous blooming habit; its lightly zoned, large, medium-green foliage; and its heat tolerance.

The present discovery, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name,Peach Delight, relates to a new and distinct geranium plant.

BACKGROUND

Peach Delight is a new and improved variety which has resulted fromdefinite breeding programs and experiments carried on by me in mygreenhouses at 821 Walnut St., Batavia, Ill. Our experiments commencedin March, 1977 and are being carried on continuously. This seedling,79×015A, resulted from a cross between Deacon Coral Reef, an unpatented,floribunda, zonal geranium and Orangesonne, an unpatented zonalgeranium.

Asexual reproduction of Peach Delight has been accomplished fromvegetative cuttings in my greenhouses in Batavia, Ill. Examination ofplants so propagated has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics herein disclosed for Peach Delight are firmly fixed andretained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY

The new and patentable characteristics of Peach Delight reside in itscascading growth habit, its large-sized medium green leaves with verylight zonation, its continuous blooming habit, its distinctivepeach-colored, double flower and its heat tolerance.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The photograph shows the plant and flower of a fully developed geraniumof the new variety, Peach Delight.

BOTANIC DESCRIPTION The Plant

Growth: Peach Delight is a continuous bloomer with a distinctivepeach-colored, double blossom. The flower head (truss) is of a largesize and very resistant to shattering. It has a slightly upright, butprocumbent growth habit which gives a cascading effect. Growth rate israpid, producing a typical 10" flowering basket in 10-12 weeks from four21/4 inch plants using standard commercial culture. Peach Delight isalso Ethrel responsive.

Blooming habit: A continuous bloomer, throughout the year, outdoors orin the greenhouse. A mature 10" basket would typically produce 13-21heads at one time. This plant is heat tolerant and blooms well allthrough the summer, but might bloom somewhat less in the shorter, darkerdays of winter.

Inflorescence: Large-sized head, rounded as it opens, measuring31/2-41/4 inches in diameter.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Abundant.

Size.--Large, 21/2-31/2 inches across.

Color.--Scheeles Green)(860) with Parsley Green(00962/3) zone. (TheRoyal Horticultural Society Horticultural Colour Chart)

Texture.--A pubescent upper and lower surface.

Stem: Thick, normal internodes, quite free branching, procumbent growthhabit.

Petiole: Long, 2-31/2 inches long, same color as leaf.

THE FLOWER

Truss:

Size.--Large, 31/2-41/4 inches in diameter.

Shape.--Rounded, a globe as it opens.

Number of florets.--Variable, range from 23-55, average 35-45.

Lasting quality.--Average. Blooms remain 5-11 days, longer if cool anddry.

Bud:

Sepals.--Short, somewhat pointed.

Color.--Orient Pink(416) (The Royal Horticultural Society HorticulturalColour Chart).

Form.--Rounded, almost pointed.

Florets:

Size.--1-11/2 inches across.

Petalage.--Double, 9-11 petals.

Color.--Azalea Pink(618/1) (The Royal Horticultural SocietyHorticultural Colour Chart).

Texture: Soft and glowing.

Form: Double flower, petals range from 1/3 to 3/4 inch wide.

Lasting quality: Average floret lasts from 4-8 days. The truss lasts upto 10-13 days.

Behavior: When the plant begins to flower, its blooming habit makes avery striking display of beautiful peach-colored blossoms against thelarge, lightly zoned, medium-green foliage.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:
 1. A new and distinctvariety of geranium plant, substantially as shown and described,characterized by its cascading growth habit; its large, peach-colored,double blossoms; its continuous blooming habit; its lightly zoned,large, medium-green foliage; and its heat tolerance.